Ultracold atoms in optical lattices form an analogue quantum simulator, an exciting system for studying many-body quantum physics. In such an experiment, a gas of neutral atoms cooled to less than 1µK above absolute zero is loaded into an optical lattice formed by interfering laser beams. These systems offer unprecedented control over all important parameters: the choice of atoms, the lattice depth and configuration, interactions between the atoms as well as more exotic parameters such as spin-orbit coupling or disorder. These parameters can all be manipulated with extremely high precision to directly recreate the Hamiltonian and other desired properties of a specific system, which can then be studied in a clean and controlled manner.

We are presently constructing an apparatus to load ultracold metastable helium (He*) atoms into a 3D optical lattice. The unique single-atom detection properties of He* will provide access to a new observable in multi-atom correlation functions. By recreating classic Hamiltonians such as the Bose-Hubbard and Aubry-Andry models, we will gain new insights into aspects of many-body quantum physics such as quantum criticality, out-of-equilibrium dynamics and disordered systems.